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ROSH HASHANAH 5772
REEL LIFE |
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My father loved movies. Whether in the theater or in the living room, documentary or fiction, he enjoyed the escape the cinema offered. My dad had a unique hobby connected to movies; he would tape shows and movies and send copies to all of his kids and relatives while always keeping a copy for himself.
A few weeks ago, I went down to Florida to visit my mother. In her den, which is lined from carpet to ceiling with VHS cassettes, I happened to grab a random tape from the shelf and trembled when I realized its contents. It was a tape that was transferred almost 30 years ago from old, Super 8 movies.
I remember watching those home movies in the original form as a child. My dad would lug out the projector from the guest room closet and we would take the hanging pictures down making the naked wall our screen. Then, we would watch movies from times before I was born. In the movies, I saw my parents young. The stresses and worries of adulthood and responsibility were free from their faces. My brothers were youthful and innocent. I saw grandparents that were nimble and walking without assistance. Even though most of the film was in black and white, all hair color was darker on the screen than in reality. My parents and brothers (and inevitably the relatives that were visiting, which was the impetus for dragging out the Super 8 reels in the first place) would look at the strobe-like films wearing smiles and fighting back tears.
Have you ever looked at an old fashioned film reel? It is a compilation of still-shot pictures organized one after the other that when pulled in succession, makes a moving picture.
The process reminds me a lot of the High Holiday period; a time where each day, action, moment and activity is put together, picture by picture, to make the movie of our life. These days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and continuing through Yom Kippur, is a time of deep reflection and introspection. It is also an invitation to look at each frame on our movie reel. We can notice the pictures that give us pride, the images that offer memory and the frames that if given the chance to have another take, we would edit out of the script.
As you look at your life movie, ask yourself:
Which pictures give you happiness?
Which ones give you pride?
Which ones make you sad?
Which depictions do you regret and leave you wishing that you could edit out?
How does each picture, when put together, affect the overall movie of your year and your life?
As a mourner this year, I have chosen not to see
movies in a theater. Still, my dad's love of movies has been in my thoughts. These home flicks have been playing on the big-screen in my mind for months.
Technology now necessitates our transferring these tapes from the medium of VHS to some other equipment du jour, which will interface better with the world in which we live. Soon after that process is done, we will watch those tapes on a flat screen, high definition television (quite different than the 20 inch, two-hundred pound Panasonic console we watched almost 30 years ago) and my kids will sit at our feet, as I did with my parents long ago. They will see me smile and cry. I can only hope that the memory will shape their lives the way that it shaped mine.
Dori and our children join me in wishing you a year of health, satisfaction, courage, honesty and peace.
Shanah Tovah,
Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner
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THE MITZVAH OF A MINYAN
Providing a minyan for congregants who are in mourning, observing a yahrtzeit or who want to be part of a daily prayer service, can only happen with a strong volunteer effort. Thanks to all those who make it possible for our Temple to fullfill this important Mitzvah. To participate please contact Machla at shaffer@templeemanu-el.com
Please join us for Minyan:
9:00 AM on Sundays
7:30 AM on Wednesdays
7:00 PM on Mondays - Thursdays
The Minyan assignments for next week,
Monday - Thursday, October 3 - 6 are as follows:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
R. Hershcopf, J. Hess, J. Heyman, M. Heymann, Mark Hirschhorn
Board Members
M. Hunter, M. Kattan, C' Klatskin, H. Klein, R. Klein
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Michael Hirschhorn, A. Hoberman, A. Hoffman, H. Hoffman, M. Holden
Board Members
J. Kopf, B. Koster, R. Krell, S. Lash
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
R. Holzer, H. Homanoff, M. Horn, M. Horning, C. Horowitz
Board Members
H. Lavin, M. Lebson, E. Leskin, J. Levinson
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
G. Horowitz, S. Hyman, L. Igel, A. Infeld, E. Ingis
Board Members
G. Meisel, B. Nelson, H. Pavel, M. Perlman
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TORAH INSTITUTE
Adult Education Program
BE INSPIRED Engage in thought-provoking study and inspiring conversation with Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner,
Rabbi David Hoffman and renowned
Jewish Theological Seminary professors.
Classes will take place at Temple Emanu-El
on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM, beginning
October 26th and will run through to the spring.
Cost of the series of classes is $360
To register, contact Machla in the Temple office
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ROSH HASHANAH
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Candles: 6:26 PM
Service: 6:30 PM
Rosh Hashanah
Day I
Thursday, Sept. 29
Shacharit
8:30 AM
Youth Service
(pre K-7th Grade)
Teen Service
(8th - 12 Grades)
10:15 am - end of adult Services
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Tashlich at Closter Nature Center
5:00 PM
Mincha/Maariv: 6:00 pm
at the Temple
Candles: 7:21 pm
Rosh Hashanah
Day II
Friday, September 30
Shacharit: 8:30 AM
Youth Service
(pre K-7th Grade)
Teen Service
(8th - 12 Grades)
10:15 am - end of adult Services
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Candles: 6:23 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat
7:00 pm
Saturday, Sept. 24
Service - 9:00 AM
in the Sanctuary
Babysitting - 9:30 AM
Shabbat Candle Lighting
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER TEN. To receive an e-mail only version of the TEN, please contact Shayron
at the Temple office
Join our mailing list |
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A message from
IDF Chief of Staff:
Lieutenant General Benny Gantz
extended his warm wishes for Rosh Hashanah to the Jewish people. Taking great pride in the IDF's technological advancements, Lt. Gen. Gantz applauded the Iron Dome anti-rocket system. "We will continue to stand
strong against those who seek our demise," said the lieutenant general.
In his annual Rosh Hashana greeting, Lt. Gen. Gantz extended an olive branch to neighboring countries: "We pray for security and peace."
"We eagerly await the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
"Even at this festive occasion, we must remember the IDF soldiers missing in action", said Lt. Gen. Gantz as he paid tribute to Israel's fallen and kidnapped soldiers. "We all join in prayer and share the hope that during this coming year we will see their release."
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UPCOMING EVENTS
CALLING ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS
Come Hang with
the Rabbi
For all college students home for the holidays and our local 18 & over crowd, please join Rabbi Kirshner at his home for a casual holiday get together on Thursday, September 29th at 3:30 pm.
21 Harvard Street
Closter, NJ
We will all walk over to the Closter Nature Center for Tashlich at 5pm.
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
FOOD DRIVE
Please fill the blue bags you have already received or that you will find on your seats on Rosh Hashanah, with non-perishable food items and return to the Temple by Friday, October 7
CALLING ALL F2F
(9-12th graders)
& Bonim Builder Volunteers!
Building a Sukkah is a fun and rewarding project for individuals and families alike. F2F and Bonim Builders will be helping seniors and individuals with physical challenges to celebrate Sukkot by assembling their Sukkah.
Sunday, October 2 at 1:00 PM (location TBD)
For more information please email Tammy Ween at ween@templeemanu-el.com
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MUSIC TOGETHER
for children from birth
to 4 years old.
Wed. @ 4:00 PM
& Fridays @ 11:30 AM
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TA'AM Emanu-El
Sunday, October 16
9:30 - 11:15 AM
Noah's Ark Animal Workshop
Create your own stuffed animals for a life size Noah's Ark story time. |
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